Linked Life Data

10935425

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/10935425

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
4
pubmed:dateCreated
2000-8-29
pubmed:abstractText
Meningococcal disease remains a major cause of death in young children. A decrease in mortality requires recognition and treatment of the disease at a number of stages in the illness. Life-threatening meningococcal disease usually presents as septicaemia rather than meningitis. The cardinal feature of meningococcal septicaemia is the purpuric rash. Many parents recognise the rash and seek medical advice because of it. When primary care physicians recognise the rash, the administration of parenteral penicillin may decrease mortality. However, antibacterials are not given promptly if there is no rash or if the disease presents in an atypical form. In hospital, antibacterial therapy with a third-generation cephalosporin should be given. Disease severity needs to be assessed by a valid method, such as the Glasgow Meningococcal Septicaemia Prognostic Score (GMSPS). This can identify those patients who need intensive care and/or might benefit from new therapies. The 2 life-threatening complications are septic shock and meningoencephalitis with raised intracranial pressure. Despite numerous case reports of success with potential new treatments, none has been proven safe and/or effective by controlled trials. Although it is tempting to focus on new treatments, the early recognition of severe meningococcal disease by parents, primary care physicians and junior hospital doctors is equally, if not more, important as a potential means of decreasing mortality.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
1174-5878
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
1
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
263-82
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:articleTitle
Recognition, treatment and complications of meningococcal disease.
pubmed:affiliation
Birmingham Heartlands and Solihull NHS Trust (Teaching), England.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't